Benefits of drinking less

There are so many benefits to drinking less alcohol, some you may expect and others that may be a welcome surprise. Not only is it good for your general health, improving your appearance and how you feel overall, drinking less will have a positive impact on other aspects of your life including your relationships and work. Remember, this decision is in your hands - if you regularly drink above the low-risk alcohol guidelines or the effects of alcohol are having a negative impact on your life, it may be time to consider reducing how much and how often you drink.

Here are just some of the benefits of drinking less alcohol to consider.

Improved mental health

Alcohol can contribute to the development of mental health difficulties, as well as making existing problems worse. In fact, drinking when you’re anxious or stressed to improve your mood can have the opposite effect than intended. If you frequently feel low after drinking, reduce your alcohol intake. You could also try to keep a diary to track any changes in how you feel.

Better long-term physical health

Many alcohol-related health risks don’t appear until later in life. Drinking less will reduce your risk of developing serious health issues such as cancer, liver or heart disease and could contribute to lowering your blood pressure. You may not be able to see the effects but you can rest assured that you are making a difference to your long-term health.

Healthier appearance

Alcohol has a high calorie content and so, regularly drinking increases your calorie intake. A pint of average strength beer (4.5%) contains roughly 162 calories, which means that drinking five pints in throughout the week will add almost 1,000 calories to your intake. Depending on the drink, alcohol contain high level of sugar. For example, one bottle (750ml) of 12.5% white wine has 30 grams of sugar, which is the equivalent of 8 teaspoons! Alcohol also dehydrates the body which can leave your skin looking dull. Reducing how much you drink and how often and opting for low-calorie alternatives can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight and appearance. Why not order a free Get the Facts pack for a calorie and sugar calculator?

Increased energy

Alcohol can affect how well you sleep which can lead to a bad night’s rest and leave you with less energy than normal the following day. Even just a few drinks can interfere with the normal sleep process, affecting the quality of your sleep. Reduce how much alcohol you drink to see the positive effect on your energy levels and improve your ability to concentrate.

Save money

So often, people don’t consider how much money they are spending on alcohol. Use our handy Drinks Calculator to estimate how much money you spend on alcohol during an average week. Multiply this by 52 and you'll have your spend for the year. If you were to set this aside every month, imagine how much you could save over time.